Weak position of the House criticized<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Flaws in the implementation of the 1945
\nConstitution have deprived the House of Representatives of its
\nrole as a check and balance, political analysts say.<\/p>\n
Burhan Magenda, a lecturer at the University of Indonesia's
\nSchool of Social and Political Sciences said in a discussion here
\nyesterday that the Constitution, which he called \"executive-
\nheavy\", had made it easy for irregularities to occur.<\/p>\n
The discussion was organized by the Association of Indonesian
\nCatholic Students.<\/p>\n
Nico Daryanto, a member of the People's Consultative Assembly
\nand former secretary general of the Indonesian Democratic Party
\nsaid that despite the circumstances, irregularities would not
\noccur if the executive branch of government had the goodwill and
\nconscience to serve the people.<\/p>\n
\"I don't think altering the system is the answer to the
\nproblem. It really depends on the commitment of those in the
\nexecutive body,\" Nico said.<\/p>\n
Attended by some 50 members of the student group and other
\nstudents, the discussion sought to assess the current condition
\nof the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Nico pointed out that 15 articles of the 1945 Constitution are
\nconcerned with the executive body -- including the head of state
\n-- while only three refer to the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
\"This shows how underpowered and insignificant the legislative
\nbody's position is... It also shows that, if only by default, the
\nConstitution delivers abundant power to the head of state,\" he
\nsaid, citing articles four to 15 of the Constitution on the
\npowers of the government.<\/p>\n
Giving an example of ambiguity, Nico pointed to the situation
\nof administrations at the provincial and city levels. Local
\nadministrations consist, according to law, of an executive body
\nand a local legislative council.<\/p>\n
\"How is the council expected to control the administration if
\nit is part of the it?\" Nico asked.<\/p>\n
Despite the articles in the Constitution guaranteeing the
\nlegislative body's right to control the administration, initiate
\nlegislation and determine the budget, the position of the head of
\nstate is much stronger in the decision-making process, Nico said.<\/p>\n
Given this situation, he said, the legislative body has no way
\nof implementing its constitutional right of control.<\/p>\n
However, Burhan still sees opportunities for the legislative
\nbody to sponsor bills. He said if legislators wanted to exercise
\ntheir right to initiate legislation, they could easily do so by,
\nfor example, proposing an anti-monopoly bill or a bill defending
\nsmall and medium-sized businesses, which the public has long
\ndemanded.<\/p>\n
He said a good step towards making the legislative body more
\neffective would be to employ more experts with a greater ability
\nto criticize the government's proposals, \"instead of just
\nlistening to a minister's statements.\"<\/p>\n
Burhan said the House of Representatives should become a
\nviable and more respectable body and must play a bigger role
\nbecause it is the partner, not the subordinate, of the
\nadministration. (pwn)<\/p>",
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